Rotary kiln apparatus



pril 17, 1956 D. M. TYLER 2,742,277

ROTARY KILN APPARATUS Filed Nov. 181 1954 INVENTOR Dauald M Tyler BY M ATTORNEY UnitedStates j Patent o 2,742,277 ROTARY APPARATUS Donald Miryier, Dewey, Okla. Application November 1954, Serial No. 469,629

' Claims." or. 263-5331 The present invention relates to new and improved paratus for processing raw material of the type requrring proper particle size so that the kilns action will be as efiicient as possible. Furthermore, after the material has been processed in the rotary kiln it is conventional, for purposes such as producing Portland cement, to

grind the kiln treated material so as to: obtain a final During this grinding product of proper particle size. operation it is also conventional to mix-in other con-1 stituents which have not been fed through the rotary A' typical rotarykiln may be 250 feet or more in length, 10 to 'feet in diameter and rotate at a speed of from 1 to 2 R. P. M. Becauseof the high temperature treatto the left. The upper, or right end of the kiln, extends into a gas collecting chamber 16 which is vented by duct ment within the kiln, the Weight of the kiln is increased 7 by the necessary heat resistant lining. Be'causeof the dimensions and weights of these rotary kilns, the problem .of supporting them for rotation about their longitudinal axes is avdifiicult one. Furthermore, supplying a proper quality of ground feed material and handling the'kiln treated material for subsequent requisite grinding operations ofler further problems;

Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for supporting a rotary kiln while permitting rotation thereof.

It is a further object of'the present invention to provide more effective apparatus for supplying properly ground raw material feed to a rotary kiln while supporting the rotary kiln for rotation about its longitudinal axls.

It is a' further object of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus for properly processing kiln treatedmaterial by grinding while supporting the kiln for rotation about its longitudinal axis.

These and other objects will become more apparent upon considering the following description of my invention taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partially in cross I section, of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1-; and f t Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, 10 designates a cylindrical kiln. The construction of kiln 10 is conventional and may include, for example, an outer steel casing 12 and an inner insulating lining 14. The diameter and length of the kiln 18 to an exhaust stack (not shown). The left or lower end of kiln 10 extends into a solid material collecting 'and deliveringchamber 20 which includes an outer steel casing 22 andan inner heat resistant lining 24.

An. auxiliary combustion chamber 26 having a steel tube 32extending through the wall of chamber 120 into 7 the lower end of kiln 10. Burner tube 32 also includes a steelcasing 34 and a heat resistant lining 36. Tube 38 supplies a fuel-air mixture to auxiliary combustion chamber 26 for combustion as flame 40-.

Two grinding mills 42, each rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes, are provided adjacent the upper or right hand end of kiln 10 and serve .the dual function of supporting and cradling kiln 10 for rotation about its longitudinal axes and-supplying pulverized solid material feed to kiln 10. The choicelof a particular type of grinding mill will be dictated by. the kind and condition of material that is to be treated in kiln 10. As shown in the drawing, each of mills 42 is of the tubular type and includes agrating 44 intermediate its ends for classifying the rawma'terialpassing from left to right. Finer grinding is' obtainedin the compartment to the right of grating 44 after the coarser material has been ground to the proper extent in the compartment to the leftandpassed through grating 44.

The longitudinal axes of mills 42 are preferably arranged parallel to each other and parallel to the horizontal with the longitudinal axes of the mills below the longitudinal axis of kiln 10. For the purpose of supporting mills 4-2 for rotation about their longitudinal axes, each of the mills is provided adjacent its exhaust end with a bearing or friction gearing 46 which is rotatably supported and cradled by idle friction gears or bearings 48 which are in turn supported by brackets 50 fixed to concrete piers 52- by anchor members 54. For

the purpose of supporting the feed ends of mills 42' and friction gear ring 66 is provided about the periphery of' kiln 10 and is supported and cradled for rotation about its longitudinal axis through its coaction with bearing surfaces 58 in each of mills 42. It will be noted that longitudinal movement of kiln 10 relative to mills 42 mills 42 at 56.

At the lower end of kiln 10 there is provided a second set of mills 42 whose construction and arrangement is identical with the first set described above except for the facttthat the feed ends of the second set of mills 42 are positioned to receive feed from the exhaust or lower end of kiln 10, Whereas mills 42 supporting the upper or right end of kiln 10 are positioned with their exhaust ends ad jacent the feed end of kiln 10. Reasons for this dilference in arrangement will become apparent hereinafter.

As a result of the foregoing arrangement, rotation mills 42. By the same token, rotation of any one of mills .42 will rotate kiln as well as the remaining mills 42.

As shown in Figure 1, one of the mills adjacent the lower end of kiln 10 is provided with agear ring 66 about the periphery thereof. Gearing 66 is driven by meshing gear 68 which is in turn driven by motor 70.

Since the length of kiln It} may be several hundred feet or more, it is customery to support such kilns intermediate their ends by one or more supports. As shown in Figure 1, this is accomplished by providing a friction gear or bearing surface 72 about the periphery of kiln 10 and allowing free rotation of the same by supporting it on two or more idle bearing or friction gears 74 which are in turn supported for free rotation by brackets 76 anchored to concrete piers 78 by anchors 80. A plurality of such supporting units may be necessary.

Material to be treated in the combined grinding and kiln operation is supplied as indicatedby arrow 82 to the first pair of grinding mills42 wherein it is ground and then fed by solid material delivery means 84 to the feed end or right endas viewed in Figure'l of kiln 10. As shown, the solid material delivery means may comprise a gravity chute 86 leading from each of mills 42 to a hopper 88 from which, by regulation of valve 90 and air pressure from air ejector 92, it is conveyed via lines 94, 96 and 98 to' exhaust nozzle 90. From exhaust valve 90 the discharged solid material is conveyed by gravity through chute or hopper 92 to the entrance end of kiln 10. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the specific means of conveying or delivering the solid material from the pregrinding mills 42 is of no consequence to the present invention. Examples of other suitable solid material delivering means include an elevator lift and an endless belt including buckets for delivering the material.

By virtue of rotation of kiln 10 about its longitudinal axis and the inclination kiln 10 bears to the horizontal, the material is gradually conveyed through kiln 10 and is subsequently discharged into solid material receiving chamber 20. Solid material delivery means 94 conveys this treated material for a subsequent grinding operation to mills 421ocated adjacent the discharge end of kiln-10.

After being processed in these mills, the material is discharged as indicated by arrow 96 at which point it may be bagged, collected in a suitable hopper or otherwise disposed of.

As shown in the drawings, solid material delivery means 94 comprises a pair of screw conveyors 98 rotating in a direction to remove the solid material from chamber and introduce the same into the mills 42. Motor drive 100, through pulleys 102 and 104 connected by pulley belt 106, serves to rotate screw conveyors 98 in the proper direction. As in the case of solid material delivery means 84, the specific solid material delivery means employed for delivering solid material from chamber 20 to mills 42 adjacent the discharge end of kiln 10 forms no part of the present invention. Any solid material handling means which will serve to transfer solid material from chamber 20 to these mills will sutlice. For example, gravity chute delivery means, endless conveyor belts, air ejection systems, etc. are all suitable.

The foregoing description of the present invention is for the purpose of illustrating the same and is not limiting to the scope thereof which is set forth in the claims, wherein:

I claim:

1. In combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a grinding mill rotatable about its longitudinal axis, bearing means supporting the mill for rotation about its longitudinal axis with the longitudinal axis of the mill arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of the mill being adjacent one end of the kiln, roller bearing means supporting and cradling the one end of the kiln on the mill for rotation therewith, roller 7 bearing means supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln for rotation about itslongitudinal axis, the mill acting as a roller in at least one of the roller bearing means, solid material delivery means between the mill and the interior of the end of the kiln adjacent thereto, and driving means for rotating the mill and kiln simultaneously and in response to each other.

2. In combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about its longitudinal axis, two grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes,bearing means supporting the mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes, the longitudinal axis of one mill beingarranged below the longitudinal axis of the'kiln, one end of the mill being adjacent one end of the kiln, the longitudinal axis of the other mill being arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of the other mill being adjacent the other end of the kiln, roller bearing means supporting and cradling the one end of the kiln on the one mill for rotation therewith, roller bearing means supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln on the other mill for rotation therewith, each roller bearing means incorporating a mill as a roller, solid material delivery means between the end of the one mill and the interior of the end of the kiln adjacent thereto, solid material delivery means between the other mill andthe interior'of the end of the kiln adjacent thereto, and driving means for rotating the mills and kiln simultaneously and in response to each other.

I 3. in combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes, bearing means supporting the mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axesof the mills arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each mill being adjacent one end ofthe kiln, bearing means supporting and cradling the one end of the kiln on the pair of mills for rotation therewith, bearing means supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln for rotation about its longitudinal axis, solid material delivery means between the pair of mills and the interior of the end of the kiln adjacent thereto, and driving means for rotating the mills and kiln simultaneously and in response to each other.

4. ln combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes, bearing means supporting the mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged in parallel below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each mill being adjacent one end of the kiln, bearing means supporting and cradling the one end of the kiln on the pair of mills for rotation therewith, bearing means supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln for rotation about its longitudinal axis, solid material delivery means between the pair of mills and the interior of the end of the kiln adjacent thereto, and driving means for rotating the mills and kiln simultaneously and in response to each other. a

5. In combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about its longitudinal axis with its longitudinal axis arranged at an angle to the horizontal and lying in a vertical plane, a pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes and arranged with their longitudinal axes in planes parallel to the vertical plane of the longitudinal axis of the kiln, bearing means supporting the mills for rotation-about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each mill being adjacent one end of the kiln, roller bearing means including the mills supporting and cradling the one end of the kiln for rotation therewith, the mills acting as rollers in the roller bearing means, bearing means for supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln for rotation about its longitudinal axis, solid material delivery means between the pair of mills and the interior of the kiln at the one end, and driving means for rotating the mills and kiln simultaneously and in response to each other.

longitudinal axis with its longitudinal axis arranged at an angle to the horizontal and lying in a vertical plane, a pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes and arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other and in planes parallel to the vertical plane of the longitudinal axis of the kiln, bearing means supporting the mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each mill being adjacent one end of the kiln roller bearing means including the mills supporting and cradling the one end of the kiln for rotation therewith, the mills acting as rollers in the roller bearing means, bearingmeans for supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln for rotation about its longitudinal axis, solid material delivery means between the pair of mills and the interior of the kiln at the one end, and driving means for'rotating the mills and kiln simultaneously and in response to each other.

7. In combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes, bearing means supporting the mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each mill being adjacent one end of the kiln, bearing means supporting and cradling the one end of the kiln on the pair of mills for rotation therewith, a second pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes, bearing means supporting the second pair of mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the second pair of mills arranged in parallel below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each of the second pair of mills being adjacent the other end of the kiln; bearing means supporting andcradling the other end of the kiln on the second pair of mills for rotation therewith, solid material delivery means between one of the pair of mills and the interior of the end of the kiln adjacent thereto, solid material delivery means between the other end of the kiln and the other pair of mills, and driving means for rotating the kiln and the mills simultaneously and in response to each other.

8. In combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes, bearing means supporting the mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged in parallel below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each mill being adjacentone end of the kiln, bearingmeans supporting and cradling the one end of the kiln on the pair of mills for rotation therewith, a second pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes, bearing means supporting the second pair of mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the second pair of mills arranged in parallel below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each of the second pair of mills being adjacent the other end of 6 the kiln, bearing means supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln on the second pair of mills for rotation therewith, solid material delivery means between one of the pair of mills and the interior of the end of the kiln adjacent thereto, solid material delivery means between the other end of the kiln and the other pair of mills, and driving means for rotating the kiln and the mills simultaneously and in response to each other.

9. In combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having its longitudinal axis arranged at an angle to the horizontal, a pair of grinding -mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes,

bearing means supporting the mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each of the mills being adjacent one end of the kiln, a second pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respeetive longitudinal axes, bearing means supporting the second pair of mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each of the second pair of mills being adjacent the other end of the kiln, bearing means supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln on the second pair of mills for rotation therewith, solid material delivery means from the pair of mills adjacent the upper end of the kiln into the interior of the upper end of the kiln, solid material delivery means from the interior of the lower end of the kiln to the second pair of mills, and driving means for rotating the mills and kiln simultaneously and in response to each other.

10. In combination, a cylindrical kiln rotatable about,

its longitudinal axis with its longitudinal axis arranged at an angle to the horizontal and lying in a vertical plane, a pair of grinding mills rotatable about theirrespective longitudinal axes and arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other and to said vertical plane, bearing means supporting the mills for rotation about'their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each mill being adjacent one end of the kiln, a second pair of grinding mills rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes and arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other and to said vertical plane, bearing means supporting the second pair of mills for rotation about their longitudinal axes with the longitudinal axes of the mills arranged below the longitudinal axis of the kiln, one end of each of the second pair of mills being adjacent the other end of the kiln, bearing means supporting and cradling the other end of the kiln on the second pair of mills for rotation therewith, solid material delivery means from the pair of mills adjacent the upper end of the kiln into the interior of the upper end'of the kiln,'so1id material delivery means from the interior of the lower end of the kiln to the second pair of mills, and driving means for rotating the mills and kiln simultaneously and in response to each other.

No references cited. 

